I actually agree with Anthony's review of Brother Ali's CD. While Youtube(in!) I stumbled upon a video for the song Anthony mentioned "Uncle Sam Goddamn" Check it out!
Showing posts with label Brother Ali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brother Ali. Show all posts
7/10/07
Why is No One Listening: A Review of Brother Ali's The Undisputable Truth
Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot stand the current state of Hip-Hop Music. I think it's rediculous that guys like 50 Cent even have jobs. Rap music has decended into an orgy of thinly veiled sexual references and people wanting to kill one another, and don't give me the "It's what they know" speech. I don't care. It sucks.
In 2003, A rap group from Minnesota named Atmosphere consisting of one rapper, Slug (Sean Dailey) and one DJ, Ant (Anthony Davis) released a song called "Trying to Find a Balance." It received mass airplay on MTVu and quickly became a personal favorite. I realized it was because the song was about Slug's quest for respect rather than guns and women. Then, I forgot that Atmosphere existed.
Nearly three years later, I was reading a copy of SPIN magazine and saw that Atmosphere had released a new CD called "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having." I heard it and instantly fell in love with the group all over again. "Say Hey There" is the one of the most unique songs I had ever heard and I realized something. As much as he hates the idea of it, Slug is the king of a new breed of "emo-rap." These songs are about personal strife rather than all the other stupid stuff that I mentioned. "Little Man" is about Slug's relationship with his Father and his Son. "That Night" is about a 15 year old girl who raped and killed at an Atmosphere concert in New Mexico. This is all compelling stuff. I consider "Imagine" the perfect rap CD.
So, where does all this fit into a CD review about Brother Ali? Well, Ali is signed to Rhymesayers entertainment, which is home to....Atmosphere! Also, I consider Brother Ali well on his way to being the next Slug with The Undisputable Truth.
A Few Notes about Ali:
1. Ali is frequently discussed as the World's whitest rapper. Which he is, because he is Albino.
2. Ali is Muslim as his name would suggest, and makes several references to the Koran.
In 2003, A rap group from Minnesota named Atmosphere consisting of one rapper, Slug (Sean Dailey) and one DJ, Ant (Anthony Davis) released a song called "Trying to Find a Balance." It received mass airplay on MTVu and quickly became a personal favorite. I realized it was because the song was about Slug's quest for respect rather than guns and women. Then, I forgot that Atmosphere existed.
Nearly three years later, I was reading a copy of SPIN magazine and saw that Atmosphere had released a new CD called "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having." I heard it and instantly fell in love with the group all over again. "Say Hey There" is the one of the most unique songs I had ever heard and I realized something. As much as he hates the idea of it, Slug is the king of a new breed of "emo-rap." These songs are about personal strife rather than all the other stupid stuff that I mentioned. "Little Man" is about Slug's relationship with his Father and his Son. "That Night" is about a 15 year old girl who raped and killed at an Atmosphere concert in New Mexico. This is all compelling stuff. I consider "Imagine" the perfect rap CD.
So, where does all this fit into a CD review about Brother Ali? Well, Ali is signed to Rhymesayers entertainment, which is home to....Atmosphere! Also, I consider Brother Ali well on his way to being the next Slug with The Undisputable Truth.
A Few Notes about Ali:
1. Ali is frequently discussed as the World's whitest rapper. Which he is, because he is Albino.
2. Ali is Muslim as his name would suggest, and makes several references to the Koran.
3. Ali is a single father after divorcing his ex-wife.
The first thing you will notice about the CD is that is created with alot of passion. When you sit down to listen you can help but marvel at the lyrical ability of Ali, but also had the raw emotion that he conveys through his music.
Much of the CD takes it's cues from Imagine, rehashing Ali's personal events into songs that mean something. Most notably is the trio of songs at the end of the album: Walking Away, which details his divorce from his wife and how he finally decided to give up, Faheem, which is an ode to the happiness his son has brought him, and Ear to Ear, a song which celebrates his happiness with his new life and profession.
Also notable is the most politcal song on the album which is called Uncle Sam Goddamn. The song is lyrically excellent and features one of the best lines I have ever heard about the American Government. I won't tell you what it is, because I don't want people to pre-judge (This is not a poltically driven album at all.) but it's amazing.
Lastly, the other real song of note is track one, Whatcha Got, which is a classic rap I'm better than you song. However, much like Atmosphere's The Arrival, it is done in a way which does not make it seem like Ali has any real problem with anyone. It's just a song about confidence and being the best.
All together, Ali has put together a fantastic album. With a little more work on his rapping, Ali and Slug could become one of the best hip-hop duos we have seen in a long time, and just maybe launch a new style of rap into the forefront of music.
God How I hope that Happens.
Final Grade: B+
Ali is well on his way to becoming one of my favorite artists of any genre.
Key Tracks: Whatcha Got, Lookin at Me Sideways, Walking Away, Faheem, Ear to Ear